Janet Liu | Harvard GSD | Portfolio 2023

RESHAPING PUBLIC REALM AFTER COVID PANDEMIC

Instructor: Belinda Tado

Location: South Boston, MA / Individual work

The Pandemic immediately expresses the present future which begs the question: how do we redefine public spaces for the new lifestyle during this unexpected pandemic? The project focuses on the notion of public spaces, by acknowledging the fact that the current public space is no longer to respond to emergency needs. This has allowed the possibility of a more interactive but secure living for supporting residents’ mental condition during pandemics. The project used South Boston as the laboratory to produce a system that provides a revolutionary way of living. By choreographing the space of residents’ buildings,

various scales of elements allow for multiple programmatic possibilities that provide a new way of encouraging residents to interact with new potential public spaces. While at the same time, residents can maintain their current living spaces and form a resilient neighborhood. Shortly, Technology will be a medium of social connection to support dynamic balance. Therefore public spaces will be combined with physical and digital activities which display the new relationship with society, culture, economy, and mentality to response the situation of covid-19.

NEEDS DURING PANDEMIC

How do we maintain our daily activities with pandemic lifestyle becomes a main point for near future cities.

HYBRID ACTIVITIES WITH REDEFINED PUBLIC SPACE

From daily activities, some hybrid activities are happening in our society. How to utilize hybrid activities to support cities during pandemic becomes a next question for planning a near future city.

NEAR FUTURE PUBLIC REALM

Through different era, there are variable forms of the city. The form of public realm for next 50 years should directly grow from our residential buildings so the space can immeditately support and concern residents’ physical and mental health.

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE BACK TO PUBLIC SPACES

The technology of security, heath, and communicate grid will become a prototype and expand to whole south boston.

Reshaping the inbetween space for a temporary walk

Reactivating new gathering spaces on the rooftop for and breathing fresh air

Creating community spaces on the ground for social access

Reorganizing and connecting new gathering spaces on the rooftop for people staying longer to do excercise

Adding resilience programs: composting organic garden, rain plaza, and green house

The neighborhood will form a smart gird naturally that collects the condition of neighborhood.

easily update information using their mobile phones.

VARIABLE SCALE OF PUBLIC SPACES WITH HYBRID ACTIVITIES

By classifying different scales of public spaces that will exist the neighborhood

SOCIAL PLATFORM ON THE ROOFTOP

This space is designed for individuals who plan on staying longer, where they can engage in exercise and socialize with friends.

THE GREEN HOUSE ON THE ROOFTOP

The green house located on the rooftop will allow residents to

LIQUID FORMS CONNECTION

For the next 50 years, the emphasis should be on creating adaptable public spaces that can connect existing buildings with technology, rather than constructing new ones. These fluid forms enable us to optimize existing spaces for multiple purposes."

NEAR FUTURE ROOM

Future public spaces are going to be developed from the inside of the residential room.

NEAR FUTURE WALKWAY

With technology support, sensors at the walkway can always check residents’ health condition based on their activities.

PRIMITIVES OF A SYSTEMIC ART

Instructor: Lluis Ortega

Location: Barcelona, Spain / Team

work

Roles in team: Concept design, plans design, and represetation Most works shown here were done by me

Inspired by the Sin Centre of Archigram, this project delves into a series of spatial explorations that revolve around the spiral. The spiral is an architectural element that has been utilized to maximize mobility and various flows. In addition, oblique and continuous surfaces are employed to function not only as a vessel for human activity but also as an apparatus to impact the human psyche and enhance spatial quality perception. The entwining spirals are one of the techniques used to achieve continuity and facilitate the manipulation of different spatial experiences. These spatial experiences are integrated by agents that move

along the continuous flow of the spiral. Previously, the spiral was merely seen as a pathway. However, this project has demonstrated that the spiral is a vital component in creating a new matrix of architecture and landscape. As the project developed over a semester of study, it was tested on the cemetery park. The cemetery park is a place of remembrance, a moment to take leave , a moment to memorize. The spiral can be a powerful tool in creating a space for introspection and reflection. he result is a space where people can pause, reflect and remember, and experience a deeper connection with the environment.

A NETWORKED LANDSCAPE

Instructor: Craig Douglas

Location: Saugus, MA / Individual work

Sea-level rise and climate change have become pressing concerns for the eastern seaboard, and the marshland of Saugus is particularly vulnerable due to its location at the intersection of the land and the sea. The region faces the threat of flooding, hurricane events, and sea-level rise, which are likely to have significant impacts on the ecology, infrastructure, and urban fabric of the area. To address these challenges, this project proposes to reshape the existing infrastructure and create multi-functional spaces that can adapt to changing conditions. The new infrastructure will be designed to be resilient and adaptable,

incorporating green infrastructure such as living shorelines and wetlands that can absorb excess water and reduce the risk of flooding. This multifunctional infrastructure will provide space for recreation, socialization, and economic opportunities for the surrounding community. The proposed network of shared spaces is not only about mitigating risks but also creating a more equitable and resilient future. It will provide a space where people can come together, share ideas and resources, and create a more connected and resilient community by transforming the existing infrastructure into multi-functional spaces.

CIVIC CENTER DESIGN

Instructor: Robert Natke, Patricia Natke

Location: Chicago, IL / Team work

Roles in team: Concept design, plans design, and represetation Most works shown here were done by me

Chicago is a prime example of a city that successfully incorporates green spaces into its urban landscape. A civic center, as a type of architectural design, should prioritize the physical and emotional needs of people while retaining the vitality of nature. Our main challenge was to design a building that could embrace and honor the memory of nature. To achieve this, we aimed to create a seamless integration between the building and its natural surroundings. We divided the large site into several areas that incorporate greenery, landscape, and architecture, and ensured that the flow of movement between them

was natural and intuitive. To ensure that our design was both unique and functional, we carefully considered the needs of both designers and visitors. Our programs were designed to cater to the diverse needs of the community while maintaining a cohesive and unified system connected by a central garden. In essence, our approach to design embraces nature and recognizes its importance in creating a sustainable and livable urban environment. By creating a harmonious balance between architecture and nature, we hope to create a civic center that is not only functional but also provides an enriching experience for all.

WHEEL 1893

HISTORICAL EXHIBITION

Instructor: Catherine Wetzel

Location: Chicago, IL / Team work

Roles in team: Curator, historical research drawings, representation of exhibition. All drawing shown here were done by me

THE SPACE PROBLEM

Instructor: Arthur Takeuchi

Location: Chicago, IL / Individual work

The exhibition looks at the spectacle associated with the Ferris Wheel of the Columbian Exposition, 1893. When built, the Ferris Wheel of George Washington Gale Ferris was the largest moving structure of its kind. It was also the tallest structure in Chicago at that time. Based on rare technical drawings of the first Ferris wheel, we reconstructed the whole Ferris wheel by collecting research documents. We worked collectively to produce graphic documents and models for exhibition purposes. The works are to make visible the sensational qualities of the Ferris wheel as it may have been experienced in 1893. Through research, drawing, and modeling, we used collages to express a narrative of the Ferris wheel and its legacy which will be constructed as a means of the potential of kinetic architecture.

A courthouse will be utilized as a means to make clear the essential features of the space problem. There are two parts in this study: The first is a series of abstract experiences to clarify the essentials of the problem. The second is to study the application of the principles derived from the first to solve the problems of a residence and its functional requirement. I use a collage of color as an essence of what is to be portrayed. In addition, the essential constructional principles are based on Mies' principle. Materials are another part of expressing the spatial condition. Elements such as materials for partitions, paintings and sculptures are introduced as separate, distinct and moveable parts until finally positioned. This allows numerous possibilities for trial and assessement until the best combinations are found.

BUILDING — CHARACTER — URBAN SPACE

Instructor: Angelo Lunati Giancarlo Floridi

Location: Chicago, IL / Individual work

The project explores the relationship between a building, its environment, and infrastructure in the West Loop area of Chicago. The proposed station with a market is designed to connect the fragmented urban context through its unique location. The building's form and facades reflect the tension between the context and the building, with concave surfaces representing the immediate urban factors. The ground floor plaza acts as a third place for social cohesion, and the building's interior is designed with a spiral staircase and separate floors for office space and public market. The design takes inspiration from the Manhattan Building in Chicago and the Velasca Tower in Milan, incorporating vertical and horizontal elements to respond to the urban landscape.

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BODY

Instructor: Ewa Harabasz

Location: Cambridge, MA / Individual work

Two drawing depicts a figure with contrasting qualities of strength and fragility. The body appears to be in a state of flux, with a simultaneous expansion and reduction that creates an unusual gesture. The composition of the drawing is such that the viewer can easily see the entirety of the figure, which seems to be in a dynamic state of transformation. The use of contrasting elements, such as the hard and soft forms of the figure, creates a sense of tension and interest in the artwork. Overall, the drawing conveys a powerful and delicate presence, which captures the attention of the viewer and inspires contemplation.